Search Google Appliance

Science & Mathematics

The Museum's collections hold thousands of objects related to chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, and other sciences. Instruments range from early American telescopes to lasers. Rare glassware and other artifacts from the laboratory of Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, are among the scientific treasures here. A Gilbert chemistry set of about 1937 and other objects testify to the pleasures of amateur science. Artifacts also help illuminate the social and political history of biology and the roles of women and minorities in science.

The mathematics collection holds artifacts from slide rules and flash cards to code-breaking equipment. More than 1,000 models demonstrate some of the problems and principles of mathematics, and 80 abstract paintings by illustrator and cartoonist Crockett Johnson show his visual interpretations of mathematical theorems.

The manufacture of computing devices has been associated with mathematical tables at least since the 17th century, when tables of logarithms were used in the manufacture of slide rules. In the mid-19th century, the need for new astronomical tables reportedly inspired the Englishman Charles Babbage to propose a difference engine, which was to print the tables it calculated. The Swedes Georg and Edvard Scheutz actually completed such a machine, and it was used to compute and print tables at the Dudley Observatory in Albany, New York.

The commercially successful adding and calculating machines introduced in the 19th and 20th centuries were used to produce a wide range of tables. At the same time, machine manufacturers supplied their customers with printed tables to assist in routine calculations. These often involved reducing non-metric measurements to decimal portions of a given unit, as these tables suggest.

These six tables, printed on cardboard, were produced for Felt & Tarrant Manufacturing Company of Chicago, manufacturers of an adding machine called the Comptometer. The copyright dates range from 1913 to 1925. All the tables have a photograph of a Comptometer in the upper left corner. Two show the hand and wrist of an operator wearing a suit (presumably a man), and two show the hand and wrist of an operator with a woman’s ring on her finger.

The first table, Felt & Tarrant’s Form No. 8, illustrates the enduring importance of nonmetric measures in American life. It assists in multiplying the number of lengths by a unit length in engineering calculations. The table gives 10, 100, and 1,000 times inches and fractions of an inch to eighths of an inch. Results are given in feet, inches, and fractions of an inch. The table has no copyright date.

The second table, Felt & Tarrant’s Form No. 36, was prepared by one U. S. Edgerton, the only author mentioned on the tables. It was copyrighted in 1913 and is for computing interest, insurance cancellation and discounts, with months and days expressed in decimal equivalents of a year. One side shows a year of twelve 30-day months (360 days total). The other side has a table for days only, that runs from 1 to 364.

The third table, copyrighted in 1914 and 1915, is Felt & Tarrant’s Form 38. It was designed for the textile industry. Entries allow one to reduce drams (of which there 16 to an ounce) and ounces (of which there are 16 to a pound) to decimal portions of a pound. The table has rows for 0 to 15 drams and columns for 0 to 15 ounces.

The fourth table, Felt & Tarrant’s Form 26, was copyrighted in 1917. It indicates the decimal part of a year represented by each date of the month.

The fifth table, Felt & Tarrant’s Form No. 368, shows the decimal equivalents of fractions from thirds to 26ths inclusive. It has no copyright date.

The final table, Felt & Tarrant’s Form No. 386, has measurements in inches, to eighths of an inch, given as decimal portions of a foot. Copyrighted in 1925, it assisted in calculations relating to lumber, steel beams, and angles.

This key-driven, non-printing adding machine is an early example of a Comptometer with a metal case.

It has eight columns of plastickeys. The keys in the two rightmost columns, which represent cents, are white, the three middle columns are black, and the three lftmost columns are white. Such color coding was common in machines designed for financial calculations. Complementary numbers are indicated. The keys are alternately concave (for odd digits) and flat (for even digits). The keys are worn, and one is missing. The key stems are flat, and become progressively longer as the digits become larger. The subtraction levers are at the same level as the decimal markers.

The nine numeral wheels are white or turquoise around the rim, depending on the decimal place of the digit indicated. They are visible through windows in the glass. The zeroing handle is on the left. The Model A Comptometer was Felt & Tarrant’s first “duplex” machine, in that it would add in more than one column at a time, each column having the capacity to add, receive, and carry simultaneously. This was not true of the earlier wooden box models.

The first Model A Comptometer was produced in January 1904 and had serial number 15000. Over 6,200 machines were produced in the next two years. This machine has serial number 17536, which is marked in the center front. It has a metal tag screwed to the top that reads in part: TRADE COMPTOMETER MARK. There are ten patent dates on this tag.

This machine came to the Smithsonian in 1981 from the collection of Esther S. and James C. Henderson, who ran an office equipment business in Corvallis, Washington.

This full-keyboard non-printing adding machine has a steel case painted tan. The eight columns of key stems have nine key stems in each column. The green and white color-coded plastic keys deteriorated badly and have been removed. A row of nine numeral wheels is in front of the keys, and a second row of nine wheels in front of the first. A metal handle with plastic knob is on the right side of the machine and an all-metal handle is on the left side. Behind each result window is a rotating decimal marker; behind each marker for the numeral wheels in the front row is a button that can be depressed to move a cover over the result wheel. An opaque white plastic cover came with the machine although it does not fit it.

The serial number stamped near the keys is: J339163. The machine is marked on the front: Comptometer. A mark on the case reads: S2620. A red paper tag attached to the object reads: PATENT DEPT. (/) #313. A white paper tag attached to the object reads: COMPTOMETER - SUPER TOTALIZER (/) #339183. The machine is marked on the side: R S. A metal tag screwed to the case at the back reads: Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co. (/) CHICAGO (/) PATS. 1,886,883. . . (/) 366,945. Only the last and first patents have been recorded. A metal tag attached to the object reads: DONATED TO (/) The Smithsonian Institution (/) by (/) Burroughs Corporation.

This was model number 313 in the collection of the Patent Division of Burroughs Corporation.

The model J Comptometer was produced from 1926 until 1934. Patent 1,886,883 was issued in November of 1932. Hence this object is given a rough date of 1933.

This key-driven non-printing adding machine has ten columns of black and white color-coded keys. Complementary digits are indicated and the keys are alternately concave (odd digits) and flat (even digits). The key stems become progressively longer as the digits are larger. There are subtraction levers and decimal markers (unnumbered) in front of the keys. In front of these is a row of 11 windows in the brown steel case that reveals the result on numeral wheels below.

The machine has serial number 36372, which is indicated on the front to the left of the keys. It is marked on a metal tag screwed to the top of the machine: TRADE COMPTOMETER MARK (/) PAT’D [. . .] JUL.14.03 (/) Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co. (/) Chicago. The date listed is the last of several patent dates on this tag.

The model C Comptometer went on the market in 1909. This example was first used at a commercial bank in Westfield, Massachusetts. In about 1950, it was given to Harry Rapp, on of the bank directors, as a relic. He in turn gave it to Judith Lowell in about 1965. She put it to use in the office of her husband, the physician Milton Lowell of Potsdam, New York, even though the Lowells already had a more recent printing machine. Not long after Dr. Lowell retired in 1984, the couple gave the Comptometer to the Smithsonian.

References:

U.S. Patent #960528

J. H. McCarthy, The American Digest of Business Machines, Chicago: American Exchange Service, 1924, p. 548.

This key-driven non-printing adding machine has a wooden case and eight columns of color-coded plastic keys. The keys are black and white, with complementary digits indicated in red. It is a relatively late example of a Comptometer with a wooden, rather than a metal, case.

There is a spring around each key stem, and the stems become progressively longer as the digits are larger. Eight subtraction levers are in front of the keys. Eight decimal markers are attached to a metal plate, painted black, which is in front of these. A row of nine windows in the plate reveals the number wheels. Hence the machine can have eight-digit numbers entered and compute nine-digit totals. The zeroing mechanism is a knob and lever on the right side.

This full keyboard non-printing adding machine has a brown metal frame and mechanism with plastic keys. The eight columns of color-coded green and white octagonal keys include nine keys in each column. Odd-numbered keys are concave, even-numbered ones flat. Complementary digits are indicated. A row of subtraction levers is below the number keys. Digits in the running total appear in a set of nine windows in front of the keys. A red button is to the right of the keyboard releases the keyboard afer a partial keystroke error has been corrected. A metal zeroing lever is on the right side. A rubber cord attaches to the back. The on/off switch is on the front at the top right.

The machine is marked on the left corner of the top of the case: K350690. It is marked on the front and back sides: Comptometer.

This full-keyboard non-printing adding machine is a relatively late example of the products of Felt & Tarrant Manufacturing Company of Chicago. It has a gray-green metal case, a metal mechanism, and plastic keys.

The ten columns of color-coded green and white octagonal plastic keys have nine keys in each column. Complementary digits are indicated and the keys are alternately concave (odd digits) and flat (even digits). The key stems are flat and have no springs around them. The case slopes up toward the back, so that the amount of key stem that protrudes is the same for all digits. A row of subtraction buttons is below the number keys and a row of decimal markers is in front of it. Digits in the running total appear in a set of 11 windows in front of the keys. Digits in the total under columns of white keys are black, while result digits under columns of green keys are red. A red correction key to the right of the keyboard that releases the keyboard after a partial keystroke error has been corrected. A a metal zeroing lever also is right of the keyboard.

The serial number, stamped on the keyboard on the right at the front, is: W.M. (/) 446522. The front and back sides are marked: COMPTOMETER. Several dates are marked on the bottom of the machine with various initials. They include 8/17/45 and12-12-50. A metal plate attached to the bottom of the machine lists 33 patent numbers. Behind the keyboard is the mark: FELT & TARRANT MANUFACTURING CO. CHICAGO, USA.

The model M Comptometer was introduced in October of 1939, starting with serial number 400,001. By March 1947 some 64,500 of these machines had sold. The WM was a “War Model,” adjusted to conserve materials.

This example is from the collection of calculating machines assembled by Myron R. Smith.

Careful study often indicated improved ways of using adding machines. For example, Comptometer operators were trained to use only the first five (lower) keys of a Comptometer. It was quicker to push a “4” key and a “5” key than to reach up and push a “9” key. This device assisted in training. It has a green plastic base with a 5x5 keyboard. The key stems and keyboard are metal, while the keys and base are plastic. The keys are alternately concave (odd digits) and flat (even digits). There is no mechanism. The device is marked: COMPTOMETER (/) EDUCATOR (/) A FELT AND TARRANT PRODUCT.

Aprivately owned undated brochure for the Comptometer Educator uses some of the same photographs as a 1954 training manual for Comptometer operators, hence the date assigned. For the 1954 training manual, see 1994.3060.008.

This key-driven non-printing adding machine has a metal mechanism, steel keys with German silver and plastic key tops, and steel dials at the front that record the result. It is a production model of the Comptometer made by Felt & Tarrant Company of Chicago during its early years.

The eight columns of keys have nine keys each. Celluloid discs in the key tops are color-coded to mark off dollars and cents. Complementary digits are indicated on the discs, to aid in subtraction. The key tops are alternately concave (odd digits) and flat (even digits). There is a spring around each key stem. Eight levers above the dials serve as decimal markers. Nine windows at the front of the machine reveal the result.

A metal piece to the left of each “1” key is moved to prevent carrying when the complementary digits are used for subtraction. Depressing a lever on the right side of the machine allows one to turn a nearby knob and zero the number dials.

The serial number, indicated in the front center of the machine under the decimal markers, is 1876. A second mark, on a metal tag screwed to the machine in back of the keyboard, reads: TRADE COMPTOMETER MARK (/) PAT’D (/) JUL.19.87 JUN. 11. 89. (/) OCT.11.87 NOV.25.90 (/) JAN.8.89 DEC.15.91. (/) Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co. (/) CHICAGO.

This machine was transferred to the Smithsonian from the U.S. Geological Survey in 1908.

After inventing the Comptometer, Dorr E. Felt turned his attention to manufacturing a printing adding machine, which he dubbed the Comptograph. This early example is a full keyboard adding machine in a wooden case, with eight columns of metal keys covered with white discs. Each key stem has spring around it. Digits and complements of digits are indicated on the discs. In front of the keys are nine number wheels, visible through a glass window in a metal plate. The printing mechanism is at the back of the machine. Two large buttons, one on the right of the machine and the other on the left, are depressed to control this mechanism. The right button advances the inked ribbon to the take-up spool. What appears to be a zeroing knob and lever for the numeral wheels is at the front on the right, although it does not function. There is no paper tape. The section at the top of the machine that holds the metal tape folds over to protect the printing mechanism when not in use. A wire tray can be positioned to hold the paper tape.

The machine is marked with the serial number in the middle of the front and on the mechanism in the back right. this is: 209. A metal tag attached to the right side of the object reads: COMPTOGRAPH (/) PATENTED (/) JULY 19. 87. 366,945 (/) OCT. 11. 87 371,495 (/) JAN. 8. 89. 396,034 (/) JUN. [. . .] 89. 405,924 (/) NOV. 25. 90 441,232 (/) 441239 (/) It also reads: FELT & TARRANT MFG. CO. (/) 52 - 56 ILLINOIS ST. (/) CHICAGO. It also reads: COMPTOGRAPH (TRADE MARK).